Johnny Bush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnny Bush
Bush at the 2007 Texas Book Festival
Background information
Birth name	John Bush Shinn III
Also known as	The Country Caruso
Born	(1935-02-17)February 17, 1935 Houston, Texas, U.S.
Died	October 16, 2020(2020-10-16) (aged 85) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Country, honky-tonk, western swing
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, drums, fiddle
Years active	1952–2020
Labels	Stop Million Starday RCA Delta TCE Watermelon Texas Music Group BGM Heart of Texas Icehouse Music
Associated acts	Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Darrell McCall

John Bush Shinn III (born February 17, 1935 – died October 16, 2020) was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. People called him the "Country Caruso" because of his special voice. Bush was famous for writing the song "Whiskey River." This song became a big hit for him and also for his friend, country artist Willie Nelson. Johnny Bush was especially popular in his home state of Texas.

Early Life and Musical Start

Johnny Bush was born John Bush Shinn III in the Kashmere Gardens area of Houston, Texas. When he was young, he loved listening to music. He enjoyed the western swing style of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. He also liked the honky-tonk sounds from artists like Ernest Tubb and Lefty Frizzell.

His uncle hosted a radio show in Houston. He encouraged Johnny and his brother to perform on the radio. This was Johnny's first time singing for an audience. In 1952, Bush moved to San Antonio. He started his music career playing solo in local honky-tonk clubs. Later, he switched to playing the drums. It was during this time that he got his stage name, "Johnny Bush." An announcer accidentally introduced him that way. As a drummer, he played with several bands, including the Mission City Playboys.

His Music Career

Joining Famous Bands

In 1963, Johnny Bush joined Ray Price's band, the Cherokee Cowboys. Willie Nelson and Darrell McCall were also in this band. Working with Ray Price helped Bush go to Nashville, Tennessee. There, he got a contract to sing for music demonstrations. He also played drums in Willie Nelson's band, called the Record Men.

With help from Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush recorded his first album in 1967. It was called The Sound of a Heartache.

Becoming a Star

Johnny Bush started having many regional hit songs. These songs were released on the Stop record label. Some of his popular songs included "You Gave Me a Mountain" and "Undo the Right." These songs were very popular in Texas. They also reached the top 20 on the national music charts.

In 1972, he signed with RCA Records. This record company's Nashville office was led by the famous guitarist Chet Atkins. His first song with RCA was "Whiskey River." It quickly became popular on many radio stations.

Voice Challenges and Comeback

While "Whiskey River" was climbing the charts, Johnny Bush's voice started to have problems. He lost half of his singing range. Sometimes, he could not even talk. RCA Records stopped working with him in 1974.

Doctors finally found out what was wrong in 1978. He had a rare problem called spasmodic dysphonia. This condition affected his voice. Even though he could still record music, his career slowed down. In 1985, he worked with a vocal coach. This helped him get back about 70% of his original voice.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1986, Johnny Bush teamed up with Darrell McCall. They recorded a successful honky-tonk album called Hot Texas Country. Bush then started his own large country band. He performed often around South Texas. In 1994, his band released the album Time Changes Everything. That same year, RCA released a collection of his greatest hits.

In his later years, Bush continued to tour regularly. He often performed with his good friend, Willie Nelson. He released several albums on local Texas record labels. Younger Texas musicians looked up to him. He helped keep the honky-tonk country sound popular. Musicians like Dale Watson and Cornell Hurd asked him to play on their albums.

In 2003, Johnny Bush was honored. He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. His lifelong friend, Willie Nelson, was there to introduce him. In 2007, he released his autobiography. It was called Whiskey River (Take My Mind): The True Story of Texas Honky-Tonk. He also released a new album, Kashmere Gardens Mud.

Johnny Bush became a spokesperson for people with vocal disorders. This was because of his own successful treatments for his voice condition. In 2002, he received the Annie Glenn Award. This award recognized his efforts to bring attention to spasmodic dysphonia. In 2017, Bush released The Absolute Johnny Bush. This album included new songs and collaborations with other artists.

Johnny Bush passed away in a hospital in San Antonio on October 16, 2020. He was 85 years old.

Discography

Albums

Source: AllMusic

Singles

Source: AllMusic, unless otherwise stated.

See also

In Spanish: Johnny Bush para niños